Arriving in Trapani airport last night, the reality of the Messina floods hit home. Even on the west side of the island of Sicily there have been mud slides and many of the roads blocked by mud and landslides.

Messina is in the north east of Sicily on the Ionian coast and recently in the news for the approval of the project to build the Strait of Messina bridge, the longest suspension bridge in the world, connecting Sicily to mainland Italy across the Messina strait from Reggio Calabria.

Torrential rain hit Sicily on Thursday 1st October and overnight Messina floods. Apparently over 200cm of water fell within an hour creating devastating flash floods and mudslides.

The worst hit towns were were Giampilieri Superiore, 10km south of Messina, Scaletta Zanclea and Briga Superiore.

The Italian state declared a state of emergency. This is the worst landslide disaster in Italy since 1998 in Naples.

I have witnessed these Sicilian storms. The conflict of hot air coming from Africa and the cool air travelling south from the Italian Alps creates a metrological condition similar to a tropical cyclone.

Flooding was also reported in Palermo, Milazzo and Catania.

If you own an italian property in Sicily or on holiday in sicily or looking to buy a house in sicliy and flying into Catania Airport take note that local roads travelling north like the E45 or the statale 114 are still blocked. Keep to the autostrada A18 which is reported as clear today.

I trying to find out if a relief fund for the Messina Floods has been set up for donations…ok found them…there are 2…personally i’d go with option 2

Comments

We were in S Giaovanni Punta and were headed to Messina to return to CalabriaS ept 25th and there had been a mud slide on the E-45 and A18. Had to take a detour back to the A-20 near Palermo to get to Messina. I have never witnessed such rain for a prolonged time in Southern Italy.

We were in S Giovanni Punta and were headed to Messina to return to Calabria Sept 25th and there had been a mud slide on the E-45 and A18. Had to take a detour back to the A-20 near Palermo to get to Messina. I have never witnessed such rain for a prolonged time in Southern Italy.

We were on holiday in Taormina at the time. Trying to get to Messina was a nightmare, all road and rail links blocked after 1st landslide. Then the 2nd landslde about two days later killed all those people, why did’nt the local authority’s act after the 1st landslde. Our deepest feelings go out to the familys of those who were lost.